BREMEN, Ala. – Cooper Johnson rushed for three touchdowns and Ethan Day added two as No. 10 Cold Springs defeated Tanner 57-20 on senior night Thursday, Oct. 29, closing the regular season with a 9-1 record.
The Eagles overcame an early seven-point deficit with 27 unanswered points before halftime, then scored 30 points in the third quarter to secure their fourth consecutive victory.
Cold Springs reached nine wins in a season for the first time since 1993 and earned its first victory over Tanner in nine meetings. The Rattlers finished their season 4-6.
Eli Voce intercepted a pass on the game’s opening play, but Cold Springs punted on its ensuing possession. Tanner responded with a pair of long completions before a touchdown pass helped give the Rattlers a 7-0 lead.
Cold Springs answered on the ground. Cason Alexander’s 17-yard run moved the Eagles to Tanner’s 33-yard line, and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty later advanced the ball to the 15. Johnson ran 14 yards before scoring from the 1 on the next play. He added the 2-point conversion to give Cold Springs an 8-7 lead.
After forcing a punt, the Eagles put together another scoring possession behind runs by Brandon Chasteen, Johnson, Alexander and Blake Phillips. Cold Springs overcame a holding penalty, and Alexander capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. Day’s 2-point conversion extended the lead to 16-7.
Johnson intercepted a pass two plays later to give the Eagles another possession. Day’s 8-yard run converted a third down, and Johnson later scored on an 11-yard run. Chasteen connected with Voce for the 2-point conversion, pushing the lead to 24-7.
Cold Springs regained possession after stopping Tanner on downs. Chasteen completed passes of 27 yards to Day and 11 yards to Jordan Garmon, while Alexander and Johnson added runs to move the Eagles into field goal range.
Sam Hunt kicked a 30-yard field goal to close the first half with Cold Springs ahead 27-7.
Tanner opened the second half with an 87-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 27-14. Cold Springs answered immediately on its next possession.
Day gained 28 yards on the first play, and Johnson followed with a 33-yard run to Tanner’s 1-yard line. Johnson scored his third touchdown on the next play, and Day added the 2-point conversion for a 35-14 lead.
Lathan Shuford recovered a Tanner fumble at the Rattlers’ 14-yard line. Two plays later, Day scored on a 3-yard run, and Cold Springs extended its advantage to 42-14.
Johnson recovered the ensuing kickoff to give the Eagles another possession. Day added a 34-yard touchdown run, and Cold Springs led 49-14.
Tanner answered with a 15-yard touchdown pass to make it 49-20. Chasteen then connected with Voce for a 20-yard touchdown, and Jay Andrews added the 2-point conversion to complete the scoring.
Neither team scored in the fourth quarter.
Johnson finished with 124 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries. Day added 88 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Alexander rushed for 59 yards and a score.
Chasteen completed five of nine passes for 71 yards and a touchdown. Voce caught three passes for 33 yards and a score.
Defensively, Voce and Johnson each intercepted a pass. Shuford recovered a fumble, and Johnson also recovered a kickoff.
Cold Springs finished Class 2A, Region 5 play at 6-1 and had already secured the region’s No. 2 playoff seed before Thursday’s nonregion finale.
The Eagles will host Pisgah in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs Friday, Nov. 6.
